Numerical prediction of flow recirculation length zone in an artery with multiple stenoses at low and high Reynolds number

I.A Fetuga, O.T Olakoyejo, D. R. E. Ewim, O. Oluwatusin, A.O Adelaja, K.S Aderemi

Abstract: Blood flow through a three-dimension (3D) model of a stenosed artery was numerically simulated using ANSYS (FLUENT) to predict the flow recirculation length zone and wall shear stress. For this investigation, stenosis levels varied from 25% to 75% in terms of area reduction, and Reynolds numbers ranging from 50 to 3 000 were considered. At the pre-stenotic area, blood was assumed to be a Newtonian flowing fluid that is incompressible, homogeneous, and steady. The velocity distribution, streamline, and wall shear stress contour are presented to help comprehend flow recirculation and wall shear stress around the stenosed artery. It was found that for the case of 75% stenosis, at 50≤Re≤500, recirculation zone length increases with Reynolds number and then further decreases at 500≤Re≤3000. Furthermore, it was also found that the recirculation zone length reaches its peak value at Re = 500, where a plateau is observed.

Series on Biomechanics, Vol.36 No.4 (2022), 10-24
DOI:10.7546/SB.03.04.2022

Keywords: arterial stenosis; Numerical simulation; recirculation zone length; wall shear stress

Date published: 2022-11-07